Vacationing with an infant

crkreativekids

Hey ladies, I have been stalking this board for a while now, a little too nervous to introduce myself because I'm not sure if I exactly "qualify".  I have an in-home daycare and no children YET, but will by the end of the summer!!!  Once I have our baby, I will be staying home with just ours and watching a few school age children before and and after school, so I'm thinking this means I will be a stay at home mom soon....and I can't wait!!!! 

My questions for you ladies are, we usually do a family trip with my parents and siblings every year around Dec/Jan, which will make our baby 4-5 months at the time and we are going somewhere in Mexico for a week and I'm curious if you would bring your baby with you, or leave her with her grandma and enjoy some mom and dad time?  Will I be able to leave her, will it be too hard on me as a new mom leaving her?  I am planning on breastfeeding, can I leave for this long of a time?  Any moms who have vacationed with an infant, any tips or advice?  Sorry, if these questions seem silly, but I will appreciate an insights!!

Rebekah1021

I've gone on vacation with DD when she was a baby. Taking a BF'g baby is so easy. I also didn't have any problem whipping it out to nurse her. Just pack a sun tent and have fun. I took a lightweight stroller and wore her a lot when went places.

Just double the diapers you usually would use in that given time frame.

I didn't leave her until she was older. 

Mrs.Hizzo

I wouldn't have been able to leave my kids at that age. Don't get me wrong, I think it's fine if people do, I personally just couldn't have handled it. If you're breastfeeding, it will be tough. He/she may not want to take a bottle, and you'll have to be pumping constantly to keep your supply up.

We went to Mexico with my oldest when he was 9 months. The biggest pain was packing bottles (because he only took pumped milk) and the breast pump and the jarred baby food, because he was on solids. You won't be dealing with any of that with a 4 month old, probably. 

As long as you adjust your expectations and understand that you'll need to be accommodating a nap schedule (lots of time in your room) and an early bedtime, you can have an awesome time vacationing with a baby.

Rebekah1021

Also meant to add, adapt the mentality of go with the flow...it will help a lot. DD took naps on the beach everyday. If your family is going to be there, would they be willing to watch the babe for a bit so you can have a nice dinner?

Stacyc625

If you are planning on BF'ing- I would say take the baby. Make sure you do all your research about taking a baby out of the country and have appropriate papers etc. Also make sure you check with pedi about where you will be travelling and follow any suggestions doctor gives.

vacationing with an infant is very easy. At least in both of my experiences.

Being away from a BFing baby can be very difficult- pumping, storing or dumping milk, having milk pumped for back at home with baby, making sure baby takes a bottle ok, etc, etc.

EveryNameIWantIsTaken

Babies that age are SO easy to vacation with.  We went for a week long trip, and aside from the sleep issues, it was really easy.

JOEBunny

I left DD when she was 4 months for 5 days with grandmother and it worked out well.  With DS, when he was 5 months, I decided to take him along.  We just left DD with grandmother and DS went on vacation with us.  It worked out well too. 

I think it depends on your ability to pump, child to take a bottle, DH's comfort level with babies, and how much YOU need a break from the day to day.  I enjoyed both vacations.  They both had their pluses and minuses.  I don't really miss my kids when I leave them because it happens so infrequently.

 

passar3588

If you are set on nursing for a certain period of time and you still want to be nursing when baby is 4/5 months, take the baby. Infants are very portable!

I left my 5 month old to go to Mexico. It was actually a work-related trip for my H so it was kind of important to him that I go and I admit that I needed a break. I fully intended on pumping while there to keep up my supply and leaving a stash of BM as my daughter took a bottle just fine. However, we moved 3 weeks before our trip and at that point I was so stressed about the whole thing, I decided to wean. I regret not nursing her longer, but I had committed to the trip and was just too overwhelmed with the idea of pumping while in MX. I wouldn't recommend leaving your baby at home unless you are formula-feeding.

crkreativekids

You ladies have been beyond helpful!!!!  I am planning on breastfeeding, but also having her drink from a bottle too so that DH can feed her and have that special time too.  So hopefully if we do leave her, there would not be any feeding issues.  However, I was leaning towards taking her with us but was afraid about how difficult it would be to travel with her.  After everyone's great advice from experience I think I will have a tentative plan to take her, but make a final decision closer to the date.  Thanks a million ladies!!!

axr8111

Travel with infant is easy, although I left LO at that age to go to Mexico for a bachelorette party and it wasn't a problem. I just pumped a ton to store in freezer and pumped every 5 hours while in Mexico to keep supply up. However if it was any other type of vacation besides a bachelorette party I would have just brought him with. You're going with family so I think it would be no problem to bring baby. Go with your gut. The good thing is you can decide later since you don't need to buy airfare for the baby. 

notkateanymore

I left my DD for a long weekend younger than that. I left her for 10 days when she was right at a year. It wasn't easy, but it was really nice to have some time with DH. I have really severe PPD, so it was especially important I think. I also traveled with her a number of times when she was under a year and it's super easy.

GL with whatever you choose.